Bayern Munich beat Tottenham Hotspur to enter UEFA Champions League history
Bayern Munich brought the curtain down on their UEFA Champions League group stage with a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday to become only the seventh team to win all three group games in a single season.
Bayern Munich 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Goals: 1-0 Coman (14'), 1-1 Sessegnon, 2-1 Müller (45'), 3-1 Coutinho (64')
With top spot in Group B already wrapped up, Hansi Flick's men were much changed with Robert Lewandowski joining Leon Goretzka and Thomas Müller on the bench at kick-off at the Allianz Arena. Not that the home side missed a beat. Benjamin Pavard saw a brilliant volley blocked just before Serge Gnabry played a ball across the face of goal and Kingsley Coman steered the ball in. Spurs — already certain of second — were soon level when Giovani Lo Celso picked out Ryan Sessegnon, and he thrashed a shot beyond Manuel Neuer at the near post. Injury forced Coman off, but Bayern pressed on, and took a lead in at half-time when Thomas Müller — Coman's replacement — stabbed home from close range after Alphonso Davies' shot hit a post and ricocheted kindly.
The second half was about damage limitation, particularly in light of Coman's injury. Philippe Coutinho seemed to be the only Bayern man given free rein, and the Brazil international was intent to enjoy it. He had had two sighters at Paulo Gazzaniga's goal before stepping inside a challenge on the edge of the area, and bent a peerless shot beyond the visiting goalkeeper's grasp. Christian Eriksen flashed a free-kick across the face of Manuel Neuer's goal, but Jose Mourinho's side could not find a way back into the game.
Match stats
- Bayern are the only side in the tournament with a maximum points haul of 18 from their six matches, only the seventh team to achieve the feat.
- Lewandowski is the top scorer in this season's competition with 10 goals, four more than Tottenham's Kane.
- The Pole's 16-minute four-goal haul against Red Star last month was the fastest quadruple in Champions League history.
- The Bavarians have been European champions five times, most recently in 2013 when they beat Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the final in London.
- Four wins with a goal-difference of +16 was a best-ever start for a Bayern coach, but Flick had overseen back-to-back 2-1 defeats against Leverkusen and Gladbach before this win.
Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Martinez (Goretzka 87'), Boateng, Davies - Kimmich, Thiago - Coman (Müller 27'), Coutinho, Perisic (Zirkzee 86') - Gnabry
Unused subs: Ulreich, Lewandowski, Singh, Mai
Out: Alaba (pelvis), Arp (fractured wrist), Hernandez (ankle), Süle (torn ACL), Tolisso (muscular), Cuisance (foot)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Tottenham: Gazzaniga – Walker-Peters, Foyth, Alderweirald, Rose - Dier (c) (Wanyama 81'), Lo Celso (Skipp 65'), Sissoko - Eriksen, Lucas (Son 65'), Sessegnon
Unused subs: Austin, Sanchez, Tanganga, Parrott
Out: Alli (rested), Aurier (rested), Davies (ankle), Kane (rested), Lamela (thigh), Lloris (dislocated elbow), Ndombele (groin), Vertonghen (rested), Vorm (calf), Winks (ankle)
Coach: Jose Mourinho
As it happened
90+3' FULL-TIME! BAYERN 3-1 SPURS
Bayern do the job again. They're only the seventh team to win all six group games. Quite a feat!
82' WILL WE SEE LEWY?
I don't think so. He looks pretty happy on the bench, and Bayern look comfortable.
76' ERIKSEN GOES CLOSE
Eriksen lining up a free-kick...right side of the box...and that one squirms away from Neuer, flashes across the goal.
70' BAYERN IN CONTROL
The hosts are looking comfortable.
64' GOAL!! BAYERN 3-1 SPURS
If at first you don't succeed...Coutinho has another pop, this time after shifting it to the right and he bends it into the bottom corner...Gazzaniga couldn't see it from the edge of the box. It's not Coutinho; it's Coutin-yes!
61' COUTINHO AGAIN
Perisic charges down the left...Coutinho's arriving...straight at Gazzaniga. Seems Coutinho's the only one allowed to shoot at the moment.
58' COUTINHO....OVER!!
Coutinho with a handily placed free-kick...but again his radar is inaccurate as he pings that one over the bar.
55' BAYERN IN CONTROL
The hosts are looking comfortable....both teams are looking ahead to their domestic fixtures surely with things already set in the group.
50' COUTINHO...DENIED
The Brazilian has a pop from outside the area - easy enough for Gazzaniga, just a sighter for the Bayern man.
46' SECOND HALF KICKS OFF
We're underway again at the amazing Allianz Arena.
45+1' HALF-TIME
That was an impressive first half from Bayern, but they only have a one-goal lead. It should be more.
45+1' WHAT A SAVE!!
Coutinho absolutely smashes one from 25 metres...crashes off the crossbar, down ...and out!! And in fact, Gazzaniga got a touch...that was travelling!
45' GOAL!! BAYERN 2-1 SPURS
Gnabry again on the right...plays it across the face of goal...Davies must score...hits the post...ricochets...and there's Müller to stab home. Who else?
42' SPURS PRESSING
As half-time approaches, the visitors are upping the tempo...
38' HOW DID HE MISS THAT?
Gnabry brings the ball down on the right side of the area...low shot across the goalkeeper...ricochets off the far post...Thiago charging in, should score...but doesn't. Puts it wide. Should have been two.
30' KIMMICH DELIVERY
Needs some work. That was a decent free-kick near the left-hand corner flag, and Kimimch didn't beat the first man.
23' OUCH!!
Coman chases a ball down the left - no-one around him when his left leg buckles slightly under him. Maybe his ankle, maybe his knee...he'll be replaced by Thomas Müller as the Frenchman limps to the dug-out.
20' GOAL!! BAYERN 1-1 SPURS
Lo Celso picks up the ball, turns, and tries to find Sessegnon - it flicks off Boateng and into the path of the intended target, who smashes a shot past Neuer at the near post. I was right, there were more goals to come...
17' ONE-WAY TRAFFIC
Bayern have spent virtually all of the half so far in the Spurs' half. More goals to come? You'd have to think so.
14' GOAL!! BAYERN 1-0 SPURS
Gnabry is on the left...cuts inside...squares the ball for Kingsley Coman, who steers the ball calmly into the far corner. Lovely finish from the Frenchman!
12' PAVARD SOWS PANIC
Perisic gets to the byline...crosses to the back post...Pavard on the volley...blocked by Gazzaniga...and Alderweireld blocks Thiago's follow-up. That was close!
10' COUTINHO JINKING
The on-loan Barcelona man trips his way along the edge of the Spurs box, but cannot find a way through.
8' BAYERN DOMINATING
Possession is exclusively the hosts' - Spurs have done nothing of note as yet.
4' GNABRY AGAIN...
The in-form Germany international cuts in from the right, but his shot is easily gathered at the near post by Gazzaniga. The angle was always against him.
2' GNABRY GOES CLOSE...OFFSIDE
The former Arsenal man would love to score against Spurs, and came close there - but the flag was up anyway.
1' FIRST-HALF KICKS OFF
We're underway at the Allianz Arena.
WHERE'S LEWY?
I know he's on the bench, but I still had to look twice when I didn't see him in the starting line-up. He's such a permanent fixture that it's bizarre to see a Bayern XI without him.
MOURINHO, NOT SO SPECIAL VS. BAYERN
His record against Bayern is not a positive one. The 2010 Champions League triumph with Inter Milan came against the Bavarians in Madrid, but that is one of just two wins in six meetings with the club over the years.
The other four have all ended in defeats for the Portuguese tactician, including the last three (two semi-final losses with Real Madrid in 2011/12 and the UEFA Supercup defeat with Chelsea in 2013).
Moreover, Mourinho has never beaten Bayern in Munich, while the Reds have not lost a Champions League group game on home turf since December 2013, winning 25 of 32 fixtures at the Allianz Arena in the competition since then.
RESTED GNABRY TO FIRE?
Speaking of the 7-2 win, it would be remiss not to give special mention to the chief architect of that triumph, Serge Gnabry. Not only did the 24-year-old tee up Lewandowski just before the interval to put Bayern 2-1 ahead, he went on to score four second-half goals to almost single-handedly break Spurs' resolve and pave the way for Bayern to top Group B ahead of their biggest challengers for pole position.
A one-off? Well, the Germany international may not have hit four in one game since then, but he remains in scintillating form, scoring against Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Düsseldorf in the intervening period to take his Bundesliga tally to four goals and as many assists in 12 games.
COUTINHO TO SPUR BAYERN ON
After the signing of Philippe Coutinho this summer, Lewandowski explained: “He can be the key in important games, especially in the Champions League - that special something.” And if there is one team that can substantiate Lewandowski’s claim, it’s Tottenham.
Coutinho has a stunning record against Spurs, losing just twice in 14 appearances against the North Londoners while notching up eight wins and four draws, as well as scoring three goals and laying on three assists. In the Champions League, Coutinho has three wins, one draw and a single defeat to Spurs.
RECORD BECKONING
Lewandowski has found the target in every Champions League game this season and is the competition's leading marksman with 10 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the current record with 11.
LEWY-TASTIC
Robert Lewandowski goes into the game looking to add to a whopping 63 Champions League goals he already has to his name across 84 appearances for both Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. It puts the 31-year-old fifth on the list of all-time UCL goalscorers, having already overtaken Ruud van Nistelrooy (56) this season and leaving him just one behind Karim Benzema (64). The Poland captain will have his sights set on dislodging former Schalke man and veritable Champions League legend Raul (71) in third place before hanging up his boots, leaving just the frankly ridiculous exploits of Lionel Messi (114) and Cristiano Ronaldo (127) out alone in front.
TEAM NEWS - SPURS
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho announced in advance that several of his stars would not make the trip to Munich, so the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen are absent, although Lucas and Christian Eriksen do start. There are a handful of youngsters on the bench, including 17-year-old striker Troy Parrott.
TEAM NEWS - BAYERN
In addition to the Alaba / Boateng swap, interim head coach Flick has taken the opportunity to give a number of his regular starters a breather. Robert Lewandowski takes an unfamiliar spot on the bench, so Serge Gnabry is likely to lead the line in his place. Leon Goretzka and Thomas Müller are also on the substitutes' bench, where they are joined by reserve-team players Sarpreet Singh, Lukas Mai and Joshua Zirkzee.
ALABA OUT
David Alaba, who would likely have played at centre-back here, has been ruled out of the game with a minor pelvic problem. Jerome Boateng has been drafted in to replace hime
HELLO AND WELCOME!
There is relatively little at stake in this one, with Bayern already confirmed as Group B winners and Tottenham through as runners-up, but both teams will be eager to sign off from European competition for the year on a high note: Bayern are in front of their own fans, after all, and Spurs may have a taste for revenge after the 7-2 thumping at the start of October.
CONFIRMED line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Martinez, Boateng, Davies - Kimmich, Thiago - Coman (Müller 27'), Coutinho, Perisic - Gnabry
Subs: Ulreich, Lewandowski, Goretzka, Singh, Mai, Zirkzee
Out: Alaba (pelvis), Arp (fractured wrist), Hernandez (ankle), Süle (torn ACL), Tolisso (muscular), Cuisance (foot)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Tottenham: Gazzaniga – Walker-Peters, Foyth, Alderweirald, Rose - Dier (c), Lo Celso, Sissoko - Eriksen, Lucas, Sessegnon
Subs: Austin, Sanchez, Tanganga, Skipp, Wanyama, Son, Parrott
Out: Alli (rested), Aurier (rested), Davies (ankle), Kane (rested), Lamela (thigh), Lloris (dislocated elbow), Ndombele (groin), Vertonghen (rested), Vorm (calf), Winks (ankle)
Coach: Jose Mourinho
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